Preserving South African Musical History
Bass player who grew up in Soweto. Played fretless bass on Paul Simon’s Graceland album and subsequent tour.
His first solo album was Step On The Bass Line released in 1988, followed by On Friendly Basses (1990), San Bonan (1998) and In Front of My Eyes (2000).
Formed in Johannesburg in 1974 with Derrick Drain on vocals, Mick Matthews on guitar and vocals, Attie van Wyk on keyboards, Fergie Ferguson on bass and vocals and Cedric Samson on drums.
The band regularly changed members, with Shane Mahoney replacing Samson on drums, Paul de Villiers (guitar and vocals) replaced Drain who later rejoined, Ralph Martin (guitar) replaced Matthews, Franco del Mei replaced Mahoney.
Drain left again in 1982 along with van Wyk. Stewart Irving joined as vocalist in 1982.
Ballyhoo released several singles and albums in the 1970s and early 1980s. These releases met with varied success and their most successful single was “Man on the moon”, released in 1980.
They didn’t record any new studio songs or albums after the mid-1980s.
Cape-Town based tenor saxophonist who was born and grew up in District Six.
Performed and recorded with several top South African jazz musicians including Dollar Brand, Kippie Moeketsi, Pat Matshikiza, Lionel Beukes and Errol Dyers.
His most famous collaborations were with Dollar Brand, including his iconic saxophone contribution to ‘Mannenberg – Is Where It’s Happening” which led to his nickname, Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee.
In 1978 he released the album Shrimp Boats, in collaboration with Barney Rachabane (alto saxophone), Charles Johnstone (bass), Sipho Gumede (bass), Gilbert Mathews (drums), Rod Clarke (drums, percussion) and Lionel Pillay (keyboards, piano).
In the mid-1970s to early 1980s period he was a member of Black Disco, Pacific Express and Movement In The City. In the mid-1980s he formed the group Sabenza with whom he recorded the album Sabenza (1987).
He also performed the saxophone solo on Bright’s Blue’s “Weeping (1987).
He released two subsequent solo albums, Monwabisi (1991) and B (1998).
He died in Mitchell’s Plain in March 1998.
Formed in Johannesburg in 1978 by Larry Amos (guitars, vocals), Tim Parr (guitar, vocals), Robbie Whitelaw (bass) and Pierre de Vos (drums). Before their first gig Fuzzy Marcus replaced Robbie Whitelaw because Robbie had to go to the army.
Later Bruce Williams replaced Pierre de Vos. In 1979 they won the SABC’s Battle of the Bands competition and they released their only album Work It Out.
They released two singles from the album “Jo Bangles” and “Take Me To Your Heart”.
They were the first South African band signed by Benji Mudie at WEA Records. Money issues and internal disagreements led to the band breaking up in 1980.
Johannesburg-based group formed in 1984: Jabu Khanyile (lead vocals, drums), Sello Mphatsoane (trumpet), Mfaniseni Thus (trombone, vocals), Themba Mkhize (synthesisers, vocals), Arthur Tshabalala (Piano), Fana Zulu (bass), Johnny Chonco (guitars), Kelly Petlance (alto sax, flute) and Makhaya Mhlangu (percussion).
Released the single “Blue Monday” in 1986. Their debut album was Mbombela (1987) followed by Hare Yeng Hae (1990).
In 1992 Bayete broke up and Jabu Khanyile went solo but continued to call his backing band Bayete, even though the line-up was completely different.
Under this set-up six further albums were released, credited to Bayete but essentially Jabu Khanyile solo albums: Mmalo-We (1993), Umkhaya-Lo (1995), Africa Unite (1997), Umathimula (1998), Thobekile (2000) and Hiyo Lento (2005).
Cape Town-based group who formed in 2008.
Matthew Field (vocals, guitar), Robin Brink (drums) and Ross Dorkin (bass, keyboards).
They released their first album, Farm Photos, in 2009. They released follow up albums The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg (2014) and 12 Views of Beatenberg (2018).
They have also released several singles: “Echoes” (2012), “Chelsea Blakemore” (2013), “Pluto (Remember You)” (2014), “Rafael” (2014), “Camera” (2018), “Ode to the Berg Wind” (2018) and “Aphrodite” (2018).
Cape Town-based band improvisation jazz group formed in 1996. Brydon Bolton (double bass), Ross Campbell (drums) and Alex Bozas (guitar).
Have released the albums Sputnik (1998), Digital Inability (2001), Sui (2003), Black Southeaster (2010), Bush Radio Live (2012), Adrift (2014) and Are You Awake? (2020).
In 1983 James Phillips recorded the single “Hou My Vas Korporaal”/”My Broken Heart” using the pseudonym Bernoldus Niemand (Bernoldus Nobody) as a separate musical identity to his work in his own right.
He followed this up with another single, “Boksburg Bommer”/“Jody” in 1984 and then released the album Wie Is Bernoldus Niemand in 1985.
Having retired the Bernoldus Niemand persona in 1985 he resurrected it for the Afrikaans Voelvry tour in 1989.
Western Cape band formed by Steve Louw in 1989, after the break up of All Night Radio. Effectively Big Sky was Steve Louw (vocals, guitar) with various guest musicians who varied from album to album and when performing live.
First album was Waiting For The Dawn (1990) followed by Horizon (1995), Going Down With Mr Green (1997), Beyond The Blue (2002) and Trancas Canyon (2007).
The first album featured additional musicians Jimmy Mngwandi (bass), Godla Mgcinda (drums), Robbie McIntosh (guitar), Benmont Tench (piano), Don Laka (piano) and McCoy Mrubata (saxophone).
Real name is William Boardman. Born in Kimberly and started his music career singing in Johannesburg in 1958.
He performed in various bands in the late 50s and early 60s (including The Drifters, The Silhouettes and The Giants).
He started his solo career in earnest in 1963 with the release of “Somebody’s Smiling”. He went on to release dozens of singles at regular intervals during the 1960s, 1970s and into the 1980s.
He also released several albums during the same period, from Seven Letters in 1965 to Wings of a Dove in 1987. Parallel to his successful solo career he was also a member of the group The Dream Merchants who released several albums between 1966 and 1991 and a few singles in the 1960s.